Every year, I dreaded the physical computing unit using Arduinos in my Computer Science I class. I felt so frustrated by connection errors that I don’t think it was fun for anyone! A few years ago, I took a huge step back and devoted the first few lessons entirely to circuit basics using paper circuits and simulators.
Design challenges are great any time of year. A well-designed challenge encourages creative thinking, cooperative learning, and the chance to see ideas come to life!
5-6, 7-8, 9-12, Robotics, Uncategorized
My favorite part of holiday activities (at any time of the year!) is learning about different traditions students have. When designing activities, the key is to let students be creative and tell the class about themselves.
Sometimes the best resources are in your own building! Especially at a time when health protocols, expenses, and time prevent us from taking field trips.
And upon emerging on the other side of the typical stages and attempting to prioritize myself, I thought I’d try written reflection.
I’m headed into year three of individualized learning! What’s changed? What do we like? What am I still working on?
5-6, 7-8, 9-12, Advanced Topics, AP Computer Science A, AP Computer Science Principles, Computer Science I, Robotics, Uncategorized
With the added pressure of Back to School Night in person (we hosted virtually last year in a modified format), I decided to stick with what I’m most comfortable with and just teach. In each class, I picked out a quick unplugged activity or discussion to give a truer sense of what a period in my classroom is like. Here are some ideas.
Titled “Unplug the Internet,” my nifty assignment is an unplugged simulation of how the internet works. Because students are taking on the role of different parts of the internet (DNS, router, client/server, TCP, etc) they are able to build a connection with that vocabulary. This year, I had my AP CSP students facilitate the simulation to my CS1 class as a review for their AP test. They gave lots of positive feedback and for the rest of the year referred back to the person playing the role in class discussions. Find out all the information about my nifty assignment here!
If you’re reading this, you better not be sleeping on CSTA Conferences. I’ve attended every year since I started teaching CS and I always walk away reinvigorated for the next school year. Like many early in my CS teaching career, I used to look for ready-to-go curriculum or fun gadgets. Now, I try to find new pedagogical techniques, engaging activities, and ways to go deeper with the material I’m already teaching. Here’s an unordered list of ideas, takeaways, and sites I want to revisit before school starts…
What do I want my students to leave my class knowing? It’s not the nitty gritty details of syntax and memory management. Rather, I want them to see computer science in their everyday activities. I want them to see their coding, iterative design, and critical thinking skills as tools in their toolboxes. And, I want them to have the skill set to investigate and research new ways to use these skills to solve problems. To prove to themselves that they have these skills, I end the year with a final project that I call their “Passion Project.”